Sales of Dutch onion sets are difficult for now. "Sales are too low to keep prices on par, we're missing a big buyer," says Eric Moerdijk of onion sorting and packing station Monie from Nieuwdorp. "Prices vary per destination, and they're really bespoke at the moment. The various destinations sometimes have a price difference of 7 or 8 cents, but the level is difficult to maintain."
Starting this week, Monie will have the first Dutch red onions available again
"There is some export to destinations like Germany, England and Scandinavia, and also farther away, including Brazil, Malaysia and Panama, but it's not crazy. Senegal is expected to open up in early September, so onions can be sent there from mid-August again. The big question is what the price level is. Last year, we saw that we can keep sending volumes at low prices. If the price is higher, export might be less massive."
Still, Eric isn't pessimistic about the rest of the season. "The yields may not be as extremely low as had been anticipated and vary strongly, but they are not high either. That doesn't matter, as long as the quality is good. For the seed onion yields, precipitation in August will be a determining factor, but there are still quite a few plots that are behind other years in terms of development. That has to have an effect on the market."
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